What boat for £10k

[Poignard]

Looks good but i still dkn't get why they say "new engine. Installed in 2017"

That's a 10 year old engine.

If you are referring to the Konsort, the ad says :

"new Beta 25 engine installed 2016,"

Seems pretty clear that the engine installed in 2016 was a new one then, as opposed to a second - hand one.

He is not claiming that a 10 year engine is a new engine.

 

[ridgy]

A 10 year old engine in a 40 year old boat, suitably discounted, is still worthy of the title new.

 

[Major_Clanger]

It’s a from me. Too old hat, too difficult to sail unless they are 4 keen, hard men who don’t mind getting wet, too small inside and too slow. That Fulmar looks amazing, compared to the C26. Coming from someone who cut his cruising teeth in a Dragonfly 800, even smaller inside than the Contessa. But it did have a huge cockpit tent and vast deck space, and a sensible rig.

In terms of the OP's requirements, you're probably right. Interesting observation about being difficult to sail - it's one of the very easiest and well-balanced boats I've ever been on; incredibly easy and forgiving to sail. Never heard one being described as slow either but yes, they are wet. Very!

 

[Chiara’s slave]

The huge jenny is a tough call for family sailors. I have raced one, the thing is a slug. And vaguely modern 26 footer is faster and has an easier rig. They may have been state of the art in 1976, but so was a Vauxhall Viva. Nobody seriously suggests that as a family car. It’s a collectors item.

 

[ashtead]

Nothing wrong with a Vauxhall viva -took my test in one around Newport . I think it was the mark2 version or HB. Back to sailing it all went downhill when Ratsey stopped putting brass hanks on the Genoa -these centaur sailors of today don’t know what they are missing with all this new tangled tech.

 

[flaming]

In terms of the OP's requirements, you're probably right. Interesting observation about being difficult to sail - it's one of the very easiest and well-balanced boats I've ever been on; incredibly easy and forgiving to sail. Never heard one being described as slow either but yes, they are wet. Very!

They rate about 0.770 on IRC.

For context a Laser 28 currently rates about 0.900. Which makes the Laser nearly 8 minutes per hour faster. A J80, which is roughly the same LOA as the CO26 rates about 0.950. Which is over 10 minutes per hour faster.

What the CO26 actually is is the perfect speed to get round the Isle of wight whilst maintaining fair tide the whole way round. Which is why examples have won the gold roman bowl for overall winner on more than one occasion. And a good part of the reason that values for them are higher than similar boats!

 

[Brabs70]

I've been following the Centaur thread with interest, as someone in a similar corner of the market (except geographically I'm looking in the solent).

So... what boat would you buy right now with a budget of around £10k, that would get you sailing this year without a lot of immediate work, that would accomodate a family of 4 for holidays of comparable luxury to camping in a tent, and would (perhaps with modest further prep) be safe to go up and down and across the Channel?

My Westerly 33 ketch is up for £12000 but you can have it for £10000

 

[doug748]

I've been following the Centaur thread with interest, as someone in a similar corner of the market (except geographically I'm looking in the solent).

So... what boat would you buy right now with a budget of around £10k, that would get you sailing this year without a lot of immediate work, that would accomodate a family of 4 for holidays of comparable luxury to camping in a tent, and would (perhaps with modest further prep) be safe to go up and down and across the Channel?

Looking at recent posts I should say that a Contessa 26 is one of the worst boat for your needs, not because it is particularly a slow or because it has a masthead rig. These are just things racing sailors banter each other with in the club bar. They are utterly simple to sail, go where they point, are a steady platform and directionally stable in a way that a family crew will appreciate an a long channel crossing - but, alas they are far too small internally, as you probably well know.

You will have to get your skates on if you are going sailing this season, loads of good boats around at low prices but they all need something from the outset and it may now be better to wait till the end of the year.

.

 

[toothless]

a 10k contessa 26 would have to be immaculate in the current market. i am selling mine for well under half that and she's ready to go. it would be absolutely the wrong boat for OP though - it is a piece of piss to sail single handed but you won't fit a family in it without them kicking off. I know from experience!

 

[Wansworth]

Nothing wrong with a Vauxhall viva -took my test in one around Newport . I think it was the mark2 version or HB. Back to sailing it all went downhill when Ratsey stopped putting brass hanks on the Genoa -these centaur sailors of today don’t know what they are missing with all this new tangled tech.

Right on bro!

 

[Poignard]

Nothing wrong with a Vauxhall viva -took my test in one around Newport . I think it was the mark2 version or HB. Back to sailing it all went downhill when Ratsey stopped putting brass hanks on the Genoa -these centaur sailors of today don’t know what they are missing with all this new tangled tech.

My first company car was a brand-new Vauxhall Viva.

I collected it from my company's head office and set off home.

Within 10 miles it had broken down and had to be taken back to the dealers on a transporter.

 

[Sea Change]

My first company car was a brand-new Vauxhall Viva.

I collected it from my company's head office and set off home.

Within 10 miles it had broken down and had to be taken back to the dealers on a transporter.

"Everything was better in the old days"

 

[Poignard]

"Everything was better in the old days"

"They don't make them like they used to!"

 

[Wansworth]

"They don't make them like they used to!"

Monday morning or Friday afternoon car !

 

[Stemar]

Monday morning or Friday afternoon car !

Just a shame that Vauxhall had five Monday mornings and five Friday afternoons in a working week

 

[Poignard]

My first wife's brother-in-law was a staunch trade unionist and always bought British products.

After many years of saving up (he didn't believe in hire-purchase because it put money in the hands of the class-enemy, bankers) he amassed enough money to buy a new car - one of British Leyland's Friday afternoon finest.

On the third occasion when it was brought home on the back of a recovery lorry (to the great amusement of the neighbours, who couldn't stand him) his long-suffering wife rebelled. The BL car was replaced with a Japanese car which she loved, and he hated in case his trade union comrades saw him in it.

But I digress.......

 

[Wansworth]

Maybe the Vauxhall car assembler was day dreaming about his forthcoming weekend in his Westerly Centaur………

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Maybe the Vauxhall car assembler was day dreaming about his forthcoming weekend in his Westerly Centaur………

Back those days no car assembly worker could afford more than a Mirror dinghy

 

[Wansworth]

Back those days no car assembly worker could afford more than a Mirror dinghy

….yes,probably true my father didnt get his first real yacht till he inherited Atthe age of 50!

 

[finestgreen]

Maybe a Merlin?

Westerly Merlin for sale UK, Westerly boats for sale, Westerly used boat sales, Westerly Sailing Yachts For Sale Westerly Merlin 28 1985 year, fin keel. - Apollo Duck